Jim Montgomery: Pavel Buchnevich Is A Winger

Let there be no debate about it: St. Louis Blues coach Jim Montgomery will not mince words about where forward Pavel Buchnevich will be playing moving forward.

"Buchnevich is a winger to me," Montgomery told reporters Monday.

When the season first started under then-coach Drew Bannister, the Blues (13-13-12), who wrap up a four-game Canadian road trip against the Vancouver Canucks (14-8-4), were making the commitment to play Buchnevich at center out of necessity more than anything.

But after Montgomery's comments on Monday, there is no debating where Buchnevich, who has 17 points (seven goals, 10 assists) in 26 games this season and includes a four-game point streak under Montgomery (two goals, two assists) -- Buchnevich missed two games with a lower-body injury -- won't be flip-plopping between the wing and middle.